Method of crocheting in different colors and article produced thereby



July 12, 1955 M. E. PAWSON 2,712,745 METHOD OF CROCHETING IN DIFFERENT COLORS AND ARTICLE PRODUCED THEREBY Filed June 10, 1950 INVENTOR MARY ELZABETH MWWV BY 1 I I I I I {$5 ATTOR Patented ME HQD 9F CROCHETING IN DIFFERENT CQLQRS AND ARTIQLE PRODUCED THEREEY ary Eiizaheth Pawson, New Westminster,

British Columbia, Lannda Application June 16', 1953, Serial No. 167,276

7 Claims; (Ci. 66-261) This invention relates to a method which makes it possible to crochet designs and patterns in dilferent colors, and to articles produced thereby.

Until now, most crocheting has been done in a single color. However, some attempt has been made to crochet in different colors. This has not proved very popular because it has been necessary to break off a thread and join a new one each time it was necessary to change from one. color to another. This take a great deal of time and patience, and it does not result in very satisfactory work.

The method of crocheting with different colors accordingto this invention, makes it possible to d this without the necessity of breaking off a thread each time the. pattern calls for a change of color. This method makes it possible to use a thread which may be hanging from the previous row without the thread showing up in the finishedwork.

With the present method, any desired number of colors may he used throughout any portion of the WOl'k. It may be used with single, double, or triple crocheting, bu for the sake of clarity, it will hereinafter be described in. connection with double crocheting. It also may be used when either open or solid squares are being made.

The method of crocheting different colors comprises forming squares with a thread until another color is required, leaving the thread hanging, joining a thread of a different color, said different colored thread being one hanging from the previous row if there is one available near theplace where the color is required, and forming stitches with the last thread around the portion thereof extending from the point where said thread hangs from the previous row. Unless a thread will not be needed for some time, it is left hanging When the last square including it is crocheted. A new thread of a different color is joined at this point the first time the new color is required, and the Crocheting carried on in the usual manner. When the required number of squares are crocheted, this thread. is left hanging so that it will be available if it is needed in the next row. If a point is reached where a thread of another color is required in a row, and a thread of this color is hanging from a previous row ahead of this point. the hanging thread is drawn over to the square just completed and the steps following are formed around the drawn thread until the squares being form-ed reach the point from which the thread is hanging from the previous row. In this way, the thread drawn over is incorporated into the stitches so that it cannot be seen from either side of the finished work.

In describing the method of incorporating a thread in the stitch so that it cannot be seen, white and red threads only are described for the sake of clarity.

Examples of this invention are illustrate-din the ac? companying drawings, in which,

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates'one rowand part of the. second row of Crocheting,

Figures 2 to 4 illustrate three steps in the crocheting method which are used when a'closed or open square is to;be formed,

Figures 5 to 8 illustrate four steps to be used when a closed square is being made,

Figures 9 to 13 illustrate five steps when anopen square is beingformed, and

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates a pattern in a piece of crochcting Work which is formed with a single thread. of a color contrasting to the portions of the work adjacent the pattern.

Figure 1 shows one complete row and part of the next rowof a piece of Work. In the firstrow, three open squares 10 have been crocheted in the usual. manner with a white thread 11 which has been left hanging from the work. Solid squares 15 alternating with open squares 15 are next crocheted in the .usual manner with.

a red threadll' which is left hanging. Another white thread is joined and open squares 29 and closed squares Zl'are formed by a thread 22 which is left hanging. Following this, a new red threadis joined and open squares 25 and .closed squares 7' crocheted, the thread 23 being left hanging. A new White thread 39'is used in crocheting a number of open and closedsquares 31 and 32, until theend of the row is reached. Solid and open squares 33 and 34 are crocheted in the next row until 'it is desired .to changeto a'red thread. The white thread Stliis left hanging. Just prior to the completion of the last double crochet of the preceding square 33,

the red thread 28- is drawn through the loops on the needle, and then the Crocheting may continue withthe portion 35 of this thread. At this time, it is necessary to cover the extra portion 35 of this thread which is not actually required forthe crocheting operation, sufficient slack being allowed in the thread for this purpose.

in order to understand more clearly how this method covers the extra thread when solid squares are being formed, the formation of an ordinary solid square-will now be described. At the beginning or a square, there is one loopv on the hook or needle. The hook is moved under and over the thread to pick it up and form: two

loops on thehook, thehook then being pushed throughan appropriate hole in the previous row. The hook is again moved underthe thread to pick it up. and thelatter is drawn through the hole,- forming three loops on the needle. The hook is passed under the thread to pick it up and the thread is drawn throughtwo loops on the needle, leaving. two loops thereon. The hook is again moved vunder the thread and the latter is drawn through the two remaining. loops on the needle leaving one loop thereon so that the process may be repeated. This is done four-times to form four double crochet stitches to complete a closed square.

The method. according to this invention follows the ordinary crochet-.method fairly closely but it includes the steps which II'ZCOIPOIQYC the extra thread into the:

stitches. The final step of the crochet of the previous square is omitted so that there are two loops on the needle, Figure 2. The white thread 3t is held out of theway by the right hand.- The red thread 28-is drawn over. bythe hook through the two loops thereon, forming a single loop thereon, Figure 3. Thisleaves the Working portion 35 of. the thread 28 extending away from the loop on the needle, and the extra portion 36 of said thread extending to the loop. For the sake of convenience, the portions 35 and 36 will hereinafter be called the "working thread and the extra thread, respectively. Suflicient thread must be left in this extra portion to enable it to be incorporated in the stitches of the squares until. the point is reached Where this thread hangs 1 from the previous row.

The hook is passed under both the extra thread 35 and the Working thread 35; Figure 4, and the working thread is picked up or looped on the g a new loop on the needle.

' beside the remaining 'needle to form a second loop thereon, The needle is pushed through the appropriate hole in the previous row needle is now moved under both threads and the work- I ing thread picked up and drawn under the extra thread through two of the loops on the needle. This drops these two loops from the needle, but forms another loop thereon, leaving two loops thereon, Figure 7. T he needle is moved over the extra thread and under the working thread to pick up the latter so that it may be drawn through the two loops remaining on the needle, thus dropping said loops and forming a new single loop thereon, Figure 8. This leaves the needle in the position illustrated in Figure 3 and the process is repeated until the required number of double crochets are made. When the Crocheting reaches the point where the extra portion 36 of the thread 28 joins the previous row, is carried on from there in the usual manner.

This method may also be applied to open squares. Ordinary open squares are made as follows: with one loop on needle, two chain stitches are crocheted by moving the needle under ing it through the loop on the needle twice in succession. The needle is moved under and over the thread to form another loop thereon and then it is pushed through an appropriate hole in the'previous row. After this, it is moved under the thread to pick it up and draw it through the hole, forming a third loop on the needle. The needle is now moved under the thread to pick it up and draw it through two loops on the needle, moved under the thread to draw it through the remaining two loops on the needle, leaving a single loop thereon.

This completes an open square.

According to the present method, the last step of the previous crochet in the row is omitted, leaving two loops on the needle, as in Figure 2. The red thread 28 is picked up by the needle and drawn through these loops to form one loop thereon, as in Figure 3. The white thread 30 is held in the righ hand out of the way. The needle is moved under the extra thread 36 and the working thread 35 to pick up the latter, as shown in Figure 4. The hooked. working thread is drawn under the extra thread and through the loop on the needle, loop and forming a new loop on the needle. The needle is now moved over the extra thread and under the working thread to pick up the latter, Figure 9, and pull it through the loop on forming a new loop on the needle. again underboth threads to pick up the working thread to pull the latter under the extra thread and through the loop on the needle, dropping said loop and forming Actually, the last three steps merely consist of hooking the working thread three times and drawing it through a loop on the neeedle each time to form a new loop thereon after dropping the 'old one. However, during the first and last of these steps the hook is moved under the extra thread before hooking the working thread, while in' the second step the hook is moved over said working thread. The needle again is passed under both threads to pickup the working thread to'form a second loop thereon, and then the needle is passed through an appropriate hole in the previous row and then moved under both threads to pick up the workthrough the hole in ing thread, Figure 10, and draw it the previous rowrto form a large third loop on the needle, Figure 11. The needle is moved under both threads to pick up the working thread, Figure 12, to draw it through two of the loops on the needle. These two loops are dropped from the needle and a new one formed thereon loop. Then the needle is moved over the: extra thread and under the working thread, Figure 13, to draw the latter through the remaining two loops on the needle, leaving one loop thereon. This the crocheting the thread to pick it up and drawand the needle is again dropping said the needle, dropping said loop and The needle is moved pattern extends comprises using to the loop on the needle being designated an completes the square in the stitches so that it cannot be seen from either side of the work Once the end of the extra thread 36 is reached, the crocheting is carried on in the usual way.

Referring to Figure 14, 40 is a piece of crochet work of one color having a pattern 41 of a different color worked therein. This pattern is made by using the present method so that a single thread of the desired color is used to work the entire pattern, despite the fact that the over ten rows. This'means that it is only necessary to join a new thread at the beginning of the pattern and again at the end thereof. At the same time, a single thread only is used at each side of the pattern to form the basic portion of the work. Without the present method, this pattern could be worked only by making a break and a join at each end of each row I of the pattern. in this example, it would be necessary to make twenty breaks and 'joins in order to create this pattern in the old way of crocheting.

What 1 claim as my invention is:

1. The method of crocheting in different colors which comprises forming squares with a thread until another color is required, leaving the thread hanging, reaching forward and picking up a thread of a difierent color, hanging from the previous row and connecting it to the square last completed, and forming stitches with the last thread around the portion thereof extending from the point where said thread hangs from the previous row.

2. The method of crocheting in different colors which a-thread to form squares until another color is required, leaving the thread hanging, joining a thread of different color and forming a desired number of squares, leaving the last thread hanging, reaching over to a thread of a desired color hanging from the previous row and drawing it over and connecting it to the square just completed, and forming stitches thread until the squares from which the thread is hanging from the 3. The method of crocheting in different colors which comprises using a thread to form squares until another color is required, leaving the thread hanging, joining a thread of different color and forming a desired number of squares, reaching over to a thread of the desired color hanging from the previous row and drawing it over and connecting it to the square just completed, the part drawn to said square being an extra thread and the part extending from the square being a working thread, and forming the stitches necessary to crochet each required square, some of saidstitches being formed by reaching with a crochet hook under the extra thread to pick up the working thread and the remainder of the stitches being formed by reaching over the extra thread to pick up the working thread.

4. The method of crocheting in different colors which comprises using a thread to form squares until another color is required, leaving the thread hanging, reaching over to a thread of the desired color hanging from the previous row and drawing it through of the square just completed leaving one loop on the crochet needle being used, the part of said thread drawn extra thread and the part extending from said loop being a working thread, moving the needle under up the working thread to form a secondloop thereon, moving the needle through a hole in the previous row and beneath both threads and hooking the working thread to draw it through the hole to form a large third loop on the needle, hooking the working thread and drawing it under the extra thread and through two of the loops on the needle to form another loop thereonymoving the needle over the extra thread and under the working thread color is required, leaving the thread and it incorporates the extra thread 7 around the drawn 7 being formed reach the point.

previous row. I

the last two loops both threads and picking hanging, reaching over to a thread of the desired color hanging from the previous row and drawing it through the last two loops of the square just completel leaving one loop on the crochet needle being used, the part of said thread drawn to the loop on the needle being designated an extra thread and the part extending from said loop being a working thread, moving the needle under both threads to hook the working thread and draw it through the loop thereon to form a new loop, moving the needle over the extra thread and under the working thread to hook the latter and draw it through the loop thereon to form a new loop, moving the needle under both threads to hook the working thread and draw it through the needle loop to form a new loop on the needle, moving the needle under both threads and picking up the working thread to form a second loop thereon, moving a needle through a hole in the previous row and beneath both threads and hooking the working thread to draw it through the hole to form a large third loop on the needle, hooking the working thread and drawing it under the extra thread and through two of the loops on the needle to rorm another loop thereon, moving the needle over the extra thread and under the working thread to hook and draw the latter through the two loops remaining on the needle to form a new single loop thereon.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a crocheted fabric body having a background portion formed of an unbroken thread of one color and a design portion formed of at least one unbroken thread of a different color extending in a plurality of the same rows, each thread extending from a row and continuing in its portion in a succeeding row, wherein the same background thread occurs in succeeding rows without having entered the design portion and the same design thread occurs in succeeding rows without having entered the background portion.

7. As a new article of manufacture, a crochet fabric body having a background portion and a design portion of a difierent color from the background portion extending over a plurality of the same rows, said design portion being formed by at least one unbroken thread extending from a row and continuing in a succeeding row of the design portion, wherein the same thread occurs in succeeding rows of the design portion without having entered the background portion.

References Cited in the file of this patent 1,266,951 Keller May 21, 1918 2,299,300 Bjornson Oct. 20, 1942 OTHER REFERENCES 

